Hankins off to a fast start in 2009

Detroit Southeastern is ranked as the No. 62 high school football team in the country this week by RivalsHigh.com after starting out the 2009 season 3-0. Johnathon Hankins, a three-star defensive tackle for Southeastern, has been a key contributor in the Jungaleers' early season success.

"I thought we would have been ranked a little [higher], but it is good that we're ranked," Hankins said this week. "We're just staying humble, not letting it get to our heads and playing each play like it is our last."

Southeastern's defense has only allowed seven points through three games this fall. The 6-3, 326-pound Hankins has rarely seen the second half of most games because his team has been out in front by such large margins, yet he has still recorded 15 tackles, including nine for loss, and forced three fumbles.

Before he started his senior year, Hankins had already accumulated scholarship offers from the likes of Minnesota, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Virginia and Wisconsin and he is still attracting new schools.

"The newest school would be Illinois. I'm hearing from them a lot," Hankins said. "When I get down there to visit their school I'll probably get an offer after the coaches get a chance to see me. I don't have plans [to visit] right now, but it should be soon."

Hankins was originally scheduled to take an official visit to Virginia for their season opener, but he had not filed his ACT information with the NCAA Clearinghouse. He has not yet rescheduled that official visit with the Cavaliers, and does not have any official visits scheduled at this time.

"I'm focused on football and school right now, so I am going to wait until later on to set up my next visit," Hankins said. "I know in December I am taking a visit to Ohio State. I'm going to talk with Coach [Doc] Tressel again and get the date."

Hankins did make an unofficial visit to Ohio State this season, however. He was in attendance when the Buckeyes took on No. 3 USC this past Saturday.

"It was crazy and we were standing up the whole time. The fans were so loud you couldn't hear yourself think, so I just focused on the game," Hankins said. "It was good to see they could compete with a team like USC who is known for having good players. They had a chance to beat them, but they just made a few mistakes."

The Ohio State game experience enhanced Hankins' perception of the Buckeyes and they sit in his current top three alongside Oklahoma and Virginia.